I love magazines! I pop into the bookstores and the library and read lots of them each week. My favorites, as you can probably guess, are fashion magazines and Lucky Magazine is one of the best. I love their images, but I think the genius is in searching out such a wide range of fashion, style and shopping and presenting it in a way that, for our busy lives, is easy to read and follow up.
I have to say that I am primarily an online shopper, so I always appreciate their virtual shopping lists. I also really like the shoppers’ travel diaries. It is fun to see what’s stylish and fashionable throughout the world. And, of course, I always check out the “what I want now” sections. This month’s edition has a pair of “patent-trim fish skin and leather oxford heels,” from Endless.com that I’m salivating over!
Speaking of the August edition, there is a great photo of Ali Larter on the cover and she’s wearing some great necklaces. One that I particularly like is called the “Love Me” necklace by Ginette NY ($790).
If you’re interested, I have one at Brightwater Cove that is in a similar style called “Diamond Dot Necklace.” Handcrafted by San Francisco jewelry designer, Rebecca Overmann, the necklace is a beautiful 14k pink gold disk and is adorned by a beautiful 2pt. diamond. At $774, it is a very good value for money. In this economic climate, it can feel easier to go out and buy cheaper jewelry, but I love the idea that our customers are purchasing quality American products that will never go out of style and will retain and add to their value and eventually become heirloom pieces to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Okay, I got it out of my system and I’m off the soapbox!
Happy Summer Shopping!
Ann at Brightwater Cove
I Love Magazines
July 18th, 2010Winter Jewelry
November 21st, 2009
Winter in Florida! It’s my favorite time of year and completely different, weather-wise, from Winter up north. This is the time of year that we delight in and makes up for all those hot, humid summer days. As I sit here writing, the doors to my office are open out into the yard. Native Florida flowers are still in bloom and butterflies flutters around delighting, as I am, in the soft sunshine and the mild breezes. We share the yard with several wild tortoises and at this time of year, usually around noon, I often see them sitting, sunning themselves, at the entrance to their tunnels. It is hard to get a photo of them, since they are sensitive to the ground vibrations as you walk towards them and I don’t like disturbing their sunbathing. Those guys can really move. You should see them shoot down like a rocket whenever anything approaches.
Since this is the time of year we set aside for celebrating family and friends, we decided to place our Celebration Jewelry Collection on our front page. Kathleen Maley is an artisan jeweler working from her studio in San Francisco, CA. Her Celebration Collection is handcrafted in 22k gold and sterling silver. There is whimsy and delight inherent in her jewelry and I love how movement adds to the beauty of the pieces.
To view Kathleen’s jewelry, or any of the jewelry in our collection, visit us at www.brightwatercove.com. From all of us at Brightwater Cove, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and a bright New Year.
Summer Rings
April 12th, 2009I love sparkling rings on tanned fingers for summer time. Our current front page showcases just a few of the beautiful rings in our collection.
Our Summer Sky Ring has seven fine 14K gold bands set with seven small round opalite stones. Incredible shades of aqua, pale green and deep blue catch the light.
The Rainforest Ring brings to mind fresh green forests in a substantial pale green aventurine stone. It is surrounded by 14K gold and set upon a shining sterling silver band.
Simple and fun, the Gypsy Ring is a generous band of sterling silver with two oxidized channels of sterling silver.
Our gleaming sterling silver Creativity Dance Ring will look especially good against summer skin, as its five sterling silver dance joyously upon the wide sterling silver band.
download Underworld: Evolution
To see our complete jewelry collection, please visit our website at http://www.brightwatercove.com
Happy Summer!
Ann at Brightwatercove.com
Artisan Crafted Rings
August 28th, 2008The recent issue of Marie Claire magazine, September 2008, states that “jewelry will play a starring role this fall,” and showcases large cocktail rings as essential for day, evening and weekend wear. At Brightwater Cove, we have some spectacular and glamorous cocktail rings to choose from.
Our Elizabeth Ring, named to honor Cate Blanchette’s movie role, has a large deep burgundy carnelian stone surrounded by 22k gold and mounted on a substantial sterling silver ring.
Our Rainforest Ring is a slice of fresh pale green aventurine, surrounded by 14k gold and mounted on sterling silver.
If you would prefer a cocktail ring without stones, try our beautiful Tub Ring. Sculpted from sterling silver and 18k gold, this ring is a wearable piece of art.
Our Three Horn Tapered Ring is a show stopper in textured sterling silver. Beautifully designed, the ring gleams as it catches the light.
These are just a few examples for our beautiful rings. To view our complete collection, go to www.brightwatercove.com
Ann at Brightwater Cove
Pink Gold Artisan Crafted Jewelry
August 15th, 2008
People Magazine’s Style Watch Issue for August 2008 showcases rose gold, also known as pink gold or red gold jewelry. I love pink gold jewelry for its extraordinary rich color and its style versatility. Pink, red or rose gold is achieved by mixing pure gold with a certain amount of copper. We have several beautiful examples of artisan crafted pink gold jewelry here at Brightwater Cove.com.
Rebecca Overmann is an independent artisan jeweler, who works from her studio on the west coast. Her designs are characterized by their simplicity and elegance. Her pieces evoke feelings of delicateness and gracefulness and this is further emphasized as her jewelry moves with the wearer.
Her “Floating Dot Necklace” is a wonderful example of her craft. A substantial disk of 14k pink gold, adorned by a lovely 2pt. diamond, floats on a 16″ 14k gold chain. This necklace looks wonderful alone, or layered with other necklaces. Rebecca also crafts a fantastic “Diamond Dot Ring,” a simply stunning statement piece in pink gold.
To see these Rebecca Overmann handcrafted jewelry pieces and also other beautiful examples of artisan crafted gold and sterling silver jewelry, visit our website. 
Ann at Brightwater Cove.com
7 Things to know about Gold Jewelry
July 21st, 2008
Since ancient times, gold jewelry has been a prized and valued commodity. The earliest evidence of gold jewelry dates back to the Ancient Egyptians, around 3000 BCE and the Ancient Mesopotamians, around 2600 BCE. Jewelry was fashioned as amulets for religious and protection purposes, for ornamentation, as a symbol of wealth and as an investment.
Due to its enduring quality and its beauty, gold jewelry has lost none of its perceived value in the ensuing centuries. Here are 7 things you should know to help you when you purchase and store gold jewelry.
- Pure gold is 24 karats; however, 24 karat gold is a soft metal, too soft for jewelry making. Gold is generally mixed with just enough other elements, usually copper, or silver, to give it the strength needed for every day use, but still maintaining its traditional luster. 18k and 14k gold are most commonly used in jewelry making.
- When assessing gold, we speak of karate, with a k. This terminology is distinct from carats, with a c, which is a measurement used for the weight of precious stones.
- If you think of a karat as a fraction, then pure 24k gold = 24/24. 18k gold = 18/24, or 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals. In other words, anything stamped 18k gold should be 75% gold. 14k gold is approximately 60% gold and 40% other metals.
- In the United States, for an item to be called gold, it must be at least 10 karats.
- Pure gold, 24 karats, will not tarnish. Usually, 18k, since it is 75% gold, will not tarnish either. 14k gold, however, can dull and tarnish, without care.
- Gold can be designed in different colors, depending upon the additional alloys used. Yellow gold is usually a combination of gold and copper and silver. Pink, or red gold is usually gold with the addition of copper. White gold can be a combination of gold with nickel, zinc, platinum and silver.
- Gold jewelry can get nicked and scratched over years of use. This will generally add to its heirloom quality, however, it is a good idea to protect your investment. Wrap your gold jewelry in a soft cloth and keep each piece separate from other pieces of jewelry in your jewelry case. To inhibit tarnishing, you might like to place your wrapped 14k gold jewelry into a sealed plastic bag.
Ann Collins
Jewelry Trend for Summer 2008 and Fall 2008
June 21st, 2008
The Wide Cuff Bracelet
Wide Cuff Bracelets are popping up everywhere in fashion magazines, mostly in gold, the signature metal of the season. In fact, wide cuff bracelets are a timeless fashion accessory. Check out any vintage fashion pictures and you will see many beautiful styles of wide cuff bracelets.
At Brightwater Cove, we are offering a fabulous gold filled wide cuff bracelet handcrafted by Alice Roche. Alice studied and practiced architecture for several years and you can really pick up on this sensibility in her jewelry. The wide cuff is a beautiful geometric shape and there is playfulness in the repeating circular pattern. The shapes are reminiscent of a mod 60’s influence, but the brushed finish gives this piece a very up-to-the-minute, modern edge. This bracelet will look beautiful against tanned skin this summer and equally lovely this winter over a narrow sleeve.
Ann at Brightwater Cove
Welcome to our first post
June 14th, 2008
Hello and Welcome to our Blog. Check in with us in the future for news about fashion and jewelry and please feel free to chat with us about any of our jewelry pieces.
Since this is our first entry, we thought it might be best to introduce ourselves and tell you a little bit about Brightwater Cove. We are a small company based in central Florida. We began the company because we love beautiful handcrafted jewelry and found that it was hard to find such pieces at the mall, or at our local jewelry stores.
We carry jewelry that we love to wear; chic, stylish, unique pieces that are beautifully made. It’s also important to us that we are supporting American jewelry artists. All of our jewelry is designed and handcrafted by independent jewelry artists working in studios throughout North America. Our artists take pride in their imaginative artistic vision and their high standards of craftsmanship. We know that you will enjoy wearing these hard to find pieces that will reflect your singular style.
Thanks for reading our first blog. We are looking forward to chatting with you, in the future, about jewelry, fashion and design.
Ann at Brightwater Cove